TAST - Take a Stitch Tuesday - week 5

Chevron Stitch

As I began playing with this stitch, it seemed the only way to go way straight across the page. Then I thought I'd stack it like Sharon b suggested. Playing with pink, brown, purple and green this time, in the DMC floss. Ok lets stack them on top of each other, pretty and I could put something in the opening, hummmm. How about a circle? How would it look putting the stitches closer together.........then it occurred to me a drum......so there is drum. Next lets make it smaller, looks like a good place for some ribbon and some french knots.

















Here is a close up. I will have to see what else I can come up with.

Cretan stitch - Part 2

Here is the rest of my work on the Cretan Stitch, using DMC floss I added lazy daisy leaves, and flowers. Wanting to create a vine like effect, more lazy daisy were added with french knots, next silk ribbon (4mm) was wrapped around the base stitch.

You Are: 40% Dog, 60% Cat

You and cats have a lot in common. You're both smart and in charge - with a good amount of attitude. However, you do have a very playful side that occasionally comes out!

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Isn't this Pansy pretty!

Pam over at Kitty and Me Designs
posted a contest on her sight, asking who could tell her what she was going to use a beautiful piece of jewelry for, I was first to guess right. She sent this lovely Pansy as my prize. Pam has a tutorial on how to make this on her blog.....Painted Dryer Sheets...in the December archives.

Thank you Pam I love the motif, and for the contest.

TAST - Take a Stitch Tuesday - week 4

This week we have the Cretan stitch. I am not sure what I think of the stitch, thought I know I will use it now that I have become acquainted with it. I tried different lengths, and different spacing. Then I decided to try the circle and then a wavy line. Instead of just stitching the stitch name or writing it with pen as I did on the other samplers, I choose a piece of cotton fabric, and used the Cretan stitch to attach the patch with the stitch name. I am not done yet with my work on this sampler page but I wanted to add something, as you can see I am working on the middle brown stitch, I will post it once done.

Thank you for looking.

TAST - Take a Stitch Tuesday - week 3

Part 2 Detached Chain/Lazy Daisy

Sorry to be a bit late but here is what I have been working on.














I finished up the flower border (in red and green) . Then because
my brain kind of went south..... I got out my little book
Crazy Quilt Stitches, by Dorothy Bond and borrowed some
ideas from her on pages 31-35.















I also played with the bouquet a little, trying silver metallic thread round the
scallops, first with french knots, then I tried a straight stitch in place of the
french knots, which I like better, next I changed thread to a
blending filament, a Wkreinik metallic, that I got from Evening Star Design, and
this is my favorite. You can see a small patch I tested just below the bouquet.

The other designs are done in DMC floss. The little pink flower is some silk
thread Susan sent.















I really like the edge design at the bottom here, the green leaves are
DMC floss, the flower are Wildflower variegated thread, as is the design to
the right. The circle is again DMC floss. I still have a space to play in
but thought I'd get something fresh posted.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post comments
it means alot to get you input and I am happy that my work has inspired
some.

Gail

TAST - Take a Stitch Tuesday - week 3

Detached Chain Stitch















Here is what I have as of Wed. evening. First, I just played with the
detached chain/lazy daisy stitch, making circles, lines, and such. This
week I decided to work on felt to see the difference, it is a joy to work
on, soft and easy to hide the treads on the back. I am not sure how much
one would use felt, but I am enjoying it. I did see some pretty ornaments
in felt.

Next, I was trying to think outside
the box.....so I took some wool thread and made a shape with our stitch,
then got out the greens in my DMC floss and added more lazy daisy stitches
on top, next some sparkle with some threads (oh I don't remember what
kind it is. sigh). To this I added purple, lavender and pink french knots
as flowers, the bow and ruffle are of the purple DMC floss, I plan to add so
bling to the ruffle. I am thinking something like this done on the felt would
make a great motif, or add a pin to the back for a 'broach'















The red flower border is yet another idea, and I will share it
later this week.

I am enjoying seeing what everyone is doing. This is fun,
thank you Sharon for doing TAST - Take a Stitch Tuesday.

TAST - Take a stitch Tuesday, week 2 - Take two

A bit more playing with the buttonhole stitch.
As I was scanning some other blogs, I came
across Jo in NZ, the leaves she shared using the
buttonhole stitch, had to give them a try and they
are so cool, thank you Jo for sharing these.
















Then I thought about making a rose, my first attempt
in the red thread on the right. I decided instead to
draw a flower out first and then stitch the drawing and
this is what I came up with. I am pleased with the
result, and will try it again in different shades of reds.
It would be great in pinks, yellows and whites, even
lavender, just using different shades in order to show up
the different petals better. This was done in a variegate
thread, Wildflower in Painted Desert shade.















Just another look at the free hand work, I need to work
more on the palm tree and perfect it, but it is a start.

And, LOL, I fixed the date on my camera......VGB.

TAST - Take a stitch Tuesday, week 2

This week is buttonhole or blanket stitch on Sharon b's
Take a Stitch Tuesday. This is one of my favorite stitches,
but I am sure having a hard time getting anything much
done. Creativity is just not in the cards the last few days.
I worked everything in DMC floss and the hearts were hard
to do for me.















Then I got the idea, after trying a leaf, to do a palm
tree, so the leaves, trunk and flower stems are all
buttonhole, then I tried a bird. So anyway this
is my attempt for this time. At least I did get a
little creative in the end.

Sorry I could not link, my linker was not working at
time of this posting.

Look what I got today!!

What a wonderful surprise I got today! What is this
box from Moria? Can't wait to get home, so I ripe it
open right in the Post Office. Inside I find this beautiful
quilt, made just for ME!!!!!! The gals on my quilting list
Trading Fabrics secretly made up this quilt.

They are calling it my Grandma quilt, but what I found
out is that when they found out about the lose of our home
and job (I mentioned it in my year end round up), they
decided I needed a comfort quilt, something I can snuggle
in with my grandkids. It is perfect and the colors are my
favorite and match my house perfectly.















The center block

"Happiness is
being a
Grandma"









Handmade card
that came with
the quilt







Backing, and
note...........
6 different
fish =
6 grandchildren.




Isn't this just a darling quilt, and I am so blessed
to be the recipient of the quilt and the love put into
it.

Thank you to my Trading Fabric family of friends.

TAST - Take a stitch Tuesday

My whole sampler so far. I love the way it is looking.

Below is a close up of the circles I did last night, (I was
inspired to do these as I cruised thru the work of other
TAST members), these are done in some threads Susan
sent me (the left one) I love variegated as you may be able to tell.
I started with a octagon with stem stitch, then a row of
herringbone, next a row of lazy daisy, then another row of
herringbone, the opening can be used for any number of
things, I will leave it open as this is a sampler and I may frame it.

Next, in pink is a circle, of herringbone stitched in DMC floss.

You also see how I embellished the rick-rack I put down a couple
days ago. Lazy daisy, french knots and straight stitch, I threaded
some fuzzy thread with sparkles (I love that too) thru the
herringbone.
















Chain link? Sure what it looks like when you put the
herringbone stitch one on top of the other. Here I started to
fill the opening with lazy daisy and straight stitch.

Here you can see the other side of the rick-rack, just playing
with ideas for adding to the rick rack.














I am trying to decide, should I work on.....cleaning up my
computer OR should I begin cutting out a quilt????????
I wonder which will win, of course I could do a little of both
I don't think I will be going outside to much it is 18 degrees right
now (9am). Hope your weekend has been great.

TAST - Take a stitch Tuesday

HERRINGBONE STITCH















Here are my beginning stitches. I have decided to do a sampler.

I began with the basic Herringbone stitch, then overlaided
with another Herringbone, done in DMC floss, 3 strands.
Next is the high, low style, also in DMC floss,
with french knots to accent, in perle cotton "Wildflowers"

And using the stitch to tack down some rick-rack, also stitched in Wildflowers.

Below, is another look at the stitching but I wanted to show
the lazy dasiy and streight stitches I used to accent.

Happy First Day...07

Happy first day to everyone,

Today was a day of rest and before going off to bed I thought I'd share what I did today.

First off I watched the Rose Parade, I love to do this each year. I am always amazed at the creativity of the floats.

Second, I began my sampler for the "Take a Stitch Tuesday" challenge on Sharon b's blog. We are starting with the Herringbone stitch. I will post my works next week.

Third, I joined an online diet sight, thanks to Debbie R. for recommending SparkPeople.com



I thought I would share this with you.
This is a hugs quilt my online quilt
group TradingFabrics made for a
member in need. It is a lovely
quilt.



I really do need to find a better way to take these pictures.

God bless you all, and may you all have a healthy, safe, and happy New Year.